Michael Feuerborn hopes the third time will be the charm in the Longacres Mile, and he may be right.

The Maple Valley resident and his wife Amy own Longacres Mile entry Gallon. The 4-year-old gelding will be running Sunday in the 74th edition of the Grade III stakes at Emerald Downs.

The Feuerborns have entered a thoroughbred in the Mile twice before, Schoolin You in 2006 ran fourth and Honour The West in 2008 ran eighth.

Gallon will be the Fuerborns third attempt at winning the Mile, and a case can be made for the son of Victory Gallop.

The 2009 edition of the Mile has plenty of speed horses expected to set rapid splits, which opens a door for a closer like Gallon.

“This is probably our best chance ever,” Michael Feuerborn said, who is well aware of the ups and downs of horse racing.

Gallon has been successful at the mile distance, winning the $50,000 Tacoma Handicap last year.

The gelding also won the Emerald Derby last year after the winning horse was disqualified for bumping in the lane.

Gallon was honored as the top 2 and 3 year old at Emerald Downs, and the Feuerborns are looking to keep the tradition going another year.

The gelding is trained by Jim Penney and his daughter Kay Cooper. Penney has stood in the winner’s circle five times during his 50 years of training, most recently in 2006 with Flamethrowintexan. He is hoping to be posing for his sixth picture Sunday.

Cooper said jockey Juan Gutierrez will be in the irons when the gate opens.

The jockey worked Gallon Sunday and Cooper said, “Juan doesn’t say too much, but he was quite thrilled. It takes a jockey who believes in the horse.”

Gutierrez has won the Mile twice. The first time in 2005 aboard No Giveaway and in 2007 riding the Great Face.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425)432-1209 ext. 5050.